Tag: photographer

New & Old…….

If you’ve had a look round the website, read the blog before or know me, you’ll know I’m a massive Rugby fan.
However much of a fan I am, after applying for every England home game since the RWC 2015 and getting rejection emails for every England home game since the RWC 2015 I’d fell out of love a little with shooting the greatest game on earth.
To be honest last year I hardly shot sport at all, I’d convinced myself I was far too busy with weddings and all that to shoot, I was making excuses that I did not need to make!
Please don’t get me wrong I enjoy weddings and portraiture so much and I’d be a complete fool to dismiss it, after all its what makes Rainywood work, I’ve made very little money from sports photography but I’ve funded all my kit from weddings and portraits (although a lottery win or a rich backer still wouldn’t go amiss).
Recently however I was invited to return to my old club as they were after some (I hope) quality photos, not pulled form Facebook.
I of course obliged and went to shoot a Pre-season game between Ipswich RFC & Thetford, it was a slightly one sided affair in favour of Ipswich, but I must admit that I loved every single minute of being back shooting what I truly truly love.
I think this is one thing that has recently re-ignited my passion for the sports, the boxing a few months ago, and being asked to shoot for Team Ipswich Swimming again, for there head shots and team shots is a massive honor.
So hopefully it’s the start of things to come and once again I’ll hopefully get better and stronger as a photographer.
In the meantime I needed a break, so did my ever hard working wife, so luckily and last minute (ish) the wife sorted us a fantastic holiday away in Cyprus.

Hence I am writing this at 02:20 on an EasyJet flight back to Gatwick, it has been an awesome time, plenty of swimming the the beautiful blue and warm Mediterranean Sea, eating amazing local food, the beers not too bad either and generally recharging our batteries.

…………. “Then there was a short space of time when I forgot to finish this post”………….
Back now and fully recharged I can restart, last weekend was great and what I’m going to call a hash tag weekend as I got my Holy trinity in #bridesballersandbeyond with a wedding on the Friday, family shoot and a game of rugby on the Sunday….
Happy happy days!
I love what I do!
This weekend I’m stating a personal project, as I’ve got so much time on my hands, been toying with it for about a year and now is the time to get the wheels in motion.
I’m sure I’ll make a decision about a name for it soon, but at the moment it’s a work in progress, thinking….
  1. Other Art
  2. Art, Happening
  3. Art! In Motion
  4. Art Flow
Still undecided, so I’ll accept feedback for this or anything.
Cheers
Woody
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Reboot…..

With the break I’ve had in writing I don’t think I’ll try to carry on with any thread that I had going, so we’ll have this as a reboot and I’ll just write this post and see where I end up.

I’ve made a conscious decision to do a full reboot of the website too, I’ve just picked a terrible time to do it as I’m really busy at the moment, but it’s for me to manage my time better, as I don’t think my wife would let me go to a 3 day week….. If I won the lottery I still don’t think she’d let me quit work, I probably wouldn’t want to either.

So the eagle eyed will have noticed I’ve started to change things on here, the lay out and design has been updated, which is a start, just got the endless task of refreshing alot of the photos, feel it’s time, can’t keep the same ones up forever.

There has been a few weddings shot since we last spoke so those pages should be OK to replace, the “beyond” pages too which are not such a structured format, in other words I can put what I like in there and it will hopefully still work!

My downfall over the last year has been sports, I haven’t got round to shooting a lot and it’s all my own fault, maybe I’ve been lazy, can’t blame everything on being busy, I am going g to try and correct this as soon as possible.

I’ve started with football, which is strange for me but when the opportunity presents itself I try to go with it, been working with Trimley Red Devils who are being sponsored by The Grand in Felixstowe so it all ties in, the rugby season starts soon too and I’ve promised myself to shoot more of my favourite sport this year.

So everything is in hand…… I think……. I hope!

I’ll get back to blogging regularly too.

Fingers crossed hey.
Cheers Woody
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Exciting Times…..

Once again its been far too long, so let’s have a good old catch up…..
I’m still unable to post shots from my last wedding, they are all ready to go, but I haven’t been able to deliver them.

In a shocking twist, The Bride asked me to wait as both The Bride and Groom have been busy, it’s just a weird experience to be asked to wait, it does make me more excited for the unveiling though, or maybe nervous?
Can’t wait to show off the images to them, hopefully this Saturday and once I have I’ll share some here too.
Last week I also had a shooting first as I shot my first Cake Smash session with young Jaxon to celebrate his up and coming first birthday, I had great fun, i think I enjoyed it even more than Jaxon did, eating cake off my lens hood was a particular highlight and definitely a first!

Thanks to Ellie for the photo. Fingers crossed for getting more as I’m a fan of cake!
After a quiet year shooting sports (all my own fault) last week I had two jobs and they were both football! Anyone who knows me knows that’s unusual as I’m not a massive football fan, but I really enjoyed both games.
The first was a local cup final between Trimley Red Devils and Framlingham. (both reserve sides)

F

ramlingham won 1-0 at Woodbridge FC, it was an evening game so I was battling with the light through the game as the sun set, good practice and a little reassuring that I can still cope with tweeking those settings during a 90 minute game.

The second game was an academy game between Ipswich Town and Tottenham at Portman Road which is far from the grass roots of Woodbridge but just as enjoyable.
As it was an under 15/16s game I have to keep the main match photos in a locked file, still a relationship I’m hoping to develop with Ipswich Academy and I look forward to shooting them more next season.

I

n other sporting news I’ll be ticking another box this weekend as I’m finally getting around to shooting a boxing event.

I can not wait for this, I’ve always been a boxing fan and since I’ve had Rainywood I’ve wanted to shoot a fight but it’s proved tricky to get access until now, it’s also a chance to emulate one of my photography hero’s Mr Neil Liefer, I’d take 1% of his skill, fingers crossed hey!
That’s about all for this post I’ll share out some boxing photos next time, hopefully I’ll have a selling option on the site soon making buying prints more accessable and maybe some merchandise as well.

Chelsea Flower Show next week too, exciting times ahead!
I’ll keep you posted.
Cheers Woody
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Weekends as they should be….

First Wedding of the 2018 season for me this weekend and I’m a little excited.

I’m really looking forward to the first Wedding of the year on Saturday, it’s at the very beautiful Woolverstone Hall just outside Ipswich. www.woolverstonehall.co.uk
It’s a private school in fantastic grounds and all the buildings are stunning. Another reason to get excited is from what I’m told the entertainment will be second to none, all I can say at the moment is that the bride is Scottish and some things may be themed!
Sadly no haggis for the wedding breakfast though which is a shame as I’m a bit of a fan!
Another recent treat has been getting a mention on someone else’s website, it belongs to one of my future brides who’s getting married in August this year, she’s been writing a blog for a while covering, the birth of her baby girl, her fitness routine and her future wedding.
Please check it out at www.rhirhisworld.com

In other news I recently shot @knightsbball09 in there last regular season game of the year, the photos are on the fb page.

Just last week I also shot @shaneandthekorrados at @thegrandfelixstowe it was an awesome gig, so much so that I didn’t shoot as much as normal because I was enjoying the show, photos to follow in the next blog.

That’s all for now as I have more wedding prep to do.
Cheers Woody
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Filling that pipeline…

I’ve got some exciting things in the pipeline at the moment, which is always a good thing, projects ticking over equals happy Woody.
Recently I got approved to shoot at http://www.rhs.org.uk The Chelsea Flower Show, I’m shooting for an amazing artist http://www.laurajaynefisk.co.uk who creates beautiful pencil drawings of animals.

Laura also has her artwork printed onto various products from coasters to watering cans and defusers. Laura has secured a stand at Chelsea and will be selling lots of products, she has kindly asked me to shoot for her on “press day” so I will have to be on my A-game and get plenty of photos she can be proud of.
Chelsea has always been on my bucket list, so to be able to go on “press day” is a huge privilege, hopefully I’ll be able to do some shooting for myself once I’ve done what needs to be done for Laura, check out her FB page too if you can’t get to Chelsea and would like to see her work www.facebook.com/laurajaynefisk

While your on Facebook looking at Laura’s page please check out an event that is very close to my heart, http://www.facebook.com/events/523400228040017/?ti=cl is the place to visit to see everything that’s going to be happening at “Jamie’s SSAFA Fun Day” which is being held at Wickham Market Primary School on the 2nd of June from midday.

There is loads going on and all for an amazing charity, please support this event, I’ll be there shooting the event on behalf of Jamie so please come and say hi to us both! One of my canvas prints is in the raffle, so that’s a good reason to get a ticket!
So have a look at the page to read the full story of why this awesome young man is working so hard for his chosen charity.
As well as writing this blog I’ve had a little tweek of the site too, changing the look and style just a little, please let us know any feedback you have I’d love to get your opinion and thoughts.

Everything you can tell me will hopefully help me improve the site and I’m always open to criticism, good or bad.
As always thank you so much for reading and I hope you’ve got something from it, I’ll hopefully see you on the 2nd of June.
Cheers Woody
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Nothing Ventured…..

So it’s been an interesting few weeks, been keeping myself busy with plenty of work.
I’ve had some great bookings for weddings too, one for February next year, nothing special there I know but with the weather we’ve had this year it could very well be a white wedding, which would be awesome providing everyone(especially the Bride & Groom) can get there.
Booked my first for 2020 too, which is great, nothing like being prepared and with my first of this year coming at the start of next month it’s exciting times.
I’m still amazed that I shoot weddings and love it so much, was never meant to happen but that’s the joy of the job, it’s what keeps it fresh trying new things and taking chances.
I also happened last week when I got to shoot for the guys at Circus of Horrors (shots in this blog).
The guys were fantastic and looked after me really well, it was so nice to get a yes when I asked to shoot, anyone who’s read my blogs before will know that I’m no stranger to rejection, especially with shows namely the ballet(still desperate to shoot one), so getting a “yeah, of course you can” from an out of the blue email was music to my ears.
Hopefully more will follow but I’m nothing is given so more emails are due to be sent and I must remember to not hold my breath just in case it’s a while away!
Just a short one this time so thanks for reading as always.

http://www.circusofhorrors.co.uk

Cheers
Woody
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January…. What January?

OK so like many others I missed January, don’t like it, it’s a horrible month if anyone can explain why I’d really like to know.

Everything else has all been good, regular editing jobs have been keeping me on track, just need to reboot the website again, it could do with another freshen up.
The extra inspiration to do this is I’ve been lucky enough to be asked to help Sarah(sister-in-law) to start building her website.
It’s great to be able to help someone else out, I’m far from an expert but I think I know enough to get the ball rolling for her, its also a good reason to get another shoot in, planning on creating a photo story for her so Sarah can get some quality images on her new website, it’s booked in for a couple of weeks time and I’ll share how it went on here.
Keep an eye out for her hash tag……..
#relaxrewardrenewyou
I’ve also had the chance recently to help out a friend with his lightroom work flow, with a few pointers and tips, I think it helped and his new edits have looked awesome.
Really enjoy this kind of thing, not going to make it out to be something its not, so I won’t say teaching….. more like guiding/helping out but I do like having the opportunity to share the little knowledge I have.
Others have taught me, via books, websites, YouTube etc etc and it’s only right I pass it on where and when I can.

On a selfish note I have a sale on for the remaining canvas prints from last year’s exhibition, search rainywoodphoto on Facebook(or just tap the pictures) to see what have 15% off.

That’s all I have for now, so thanks for having a look.
Cheers Woody
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Happy 2018….

Thanks 2017, you’ve been ok………. Not great just ok, photo wise the last third pretty much sucked! However I continue to love what I do and the customer base I have.

I’m not one for new years resolutions but the end of the year does seem like a good time to reboot, so that’s what I’m planning to do and as 2018 brings up my 5 year anniversary of Rainywood I think it’s time to get serious.
Not everything is planned out or mapped but I’m determined to turn things around this year, there’s a few more wedding bookings than I’ve had in a while so that’s a positive to start. I also have a new personal project planned which will hopefully be a success and maybe a second exhibition, watch this space.

I haven’t written a blog post in a while either, because of the funk I’ve found myself in, I didn’t feel like I had alot to write about, so before I started this post I had a little look back over some of my previous rants……. The Conclusion is I windge and moan far too much. So let’s also make this the start of things to come and I’ll endeavour to keep things on the lighter side.
I don’t have a huge following on my blog and it’s not going to change if I carry on being negative is it? So I’ll apologise now for being grumpy up to now but also a massive thank you to those that have stuck with things and continue to read along, feel free to remind me of this post in the future if I have a relapse.
As I said earlier it’s the fifth year of Rainywood and it reminds me of when I made the push to get the business started, I was cleaning/painting container roofs in a storage lockup with my friend/nephew Callum and we were discussing the idea of starting things, I vividly remember saying to him “I can give it 5 years and see how it goes, if it doesn’t work I can just call it a day” not everything I wanted to happen I the past 5 years has come true, but alot more than I expected has, my point is I’m carrying on with more energy than ever, the only person that can make this happen is me and the only person that can make it fail is me so it’s time to pull up the socks and work a lot harder.

My main shooting aim this next year will be sports as I’ve been slacking off with it a little, my main business aim will be printing and getting my work out there for people, watching people’s face light up when they receive a photograph is a highlight for me, I love showing work digitally but a photograph someone can hold, show off and hang on a wall holds an extra magic for me and I think for my customers too.
So it’s with this post that I move forward all that’s left is for me to say a happy holiday and a fantastic new year to all my customers new and old, friends and family.
Thanks one and all.

Woody

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Struggling…… 

This was going to be my latest blog post……………..

“Back from my holiday and I’m pleased to report I had a lovely time doing not a whole lot, apart from eating amazing Italian food, swimming and taking photos.


Crashed back to reality in a fantastic way, with a whole load of editing to do, embrace the busy Woody it’s for your own good! 


I do need to have a massive clean up of both my office space as well as my storage, my work space is a mess and it’s becoming a distraction and can’t be good for me, it’s not like I don’t know where everything is, it’s just it has more stuff on top of it! 


Spring is going to come early for me on the cleaning front anyway, as soon as I’ve got some spare time anyway. 


I need to sort my storage too, when everything has calmed down I’m need to rearrange my files and catalogue them a little better especially my earlier work, I have files everywhere!”

This all sounds really impressive but I’ve been back for a few weeks now and if the truth be known I’m really struggling, I can’t seam to get my act together, I’m having no problems shooting it’s just sitting down and doing editing or anything else for that matter! 

I know what needs doing and I have a massive list, just can’t find the motivation. 

It’s now honestly starting to worry me, I’m hoping it’s just a funk and I’ll soon find my rhythm once again. 

I need a kick up the arse, so if anyone has a good size 12 that they can swing I’d appreciate it! Don’t want to have to resort to the Instagram posts that fill my page! 

Here’s hoping reading this back in the cold light of day will be enough! 

Cheers Woody

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Happy Days…..

I’m on holiday……..

Living the high life in Sardinia, Italy and I can’t complain, the weather is beautiful, the food is amazing and there are plenty of photo opportunities to be taken. Torreruja Hotel, Isola Rossa. Is great and there staff are excellent, my Italian is coming on really well too, I think I’m up to 5 words now and that’s not including beer and cigarettes in a really back accent!

Was planning on getting some street photography practice in but that hasn’t really come up as I’ve spent most of the time on the beach, this has however helped with my other target for the trip getting more underwater images together, not meaning to steal a catchphrase but there’s plenty of fish! Jellyfish too as I’ve found out, worth getting stung for though the water is lovely!

I’m looking forward to getting the photos off the action camera and into lightroom to see how they’ve really come out. Can never quite be sure off the tiny screen but all’s looking good.

I’ve also been getting alot of late night shots, capturing the scenery as well as the stars, long exposures and fingers crossed, but I’m happy with what I’ve got, at least on the back of the camera anyway.

I’ve a few days of the trip left so I’ll still hopefully get some Italian street photography into the bank but it is a holiday so I’m not pushing too hard, it’s always nice to just be able to shoot without any pressure and just be happy with whatever comes.

Going to be nice and busy on my return to blighty too, the first weekend back will be taken up with Ipswich Swimming Club’s, club championships, which I’m really looking forward too, should be a nice challenge for me to try and get some classic swimming shots, again sometime new and hopefully another string to the bow.

The rugby is also back on and I’m looking forward to the 2017/18 season, I’ll hopefully get to all my old clubs and get them all done shots they are happy with, I’ll maybe even have a run out again this year but I’m not promising myself anything as I still hurt from my one appearance last season.

Unless I get any last minute bookings in the wedding season for this year is over for me, it’s been a short year this time around but a really enjoyable one and I’m already looking forward to next year’s celebrations, there’s always room for more bookings too, so get in touch if your interested or share out my details if you know someone who is.

Back to the beach now, more to come when I’m home.

Cheers Woody.

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