14/365

Today I took my new pedometer for a spin, I walked to Wollaton Park, around the lake, up to the hall, down the hill and out of the other side of the park. I then walked to my local co-op to pick up some food and then went back home! I was cream crackered after that. All of that walking plus a little pottering around the flat meant I took 12,500 steps today! Apparently it's suggested that you should walk 10,000 steps a day, I don't know how average 9-5 Joe is supposed to do that, I walked pretty far today (maybe it was just because of the heavy load I was pushing too). The weather started off pretty cloudy which suited me fine really but then he got really hot and sunny. This is one of the first photos I took as I entered the park. I like it because the whole frame is full and there's layers and nice colours...

Taking Louie to his little friends house tomorrow for a paddle in her pool! :)

Samantha

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13/365

The cinema was so busy today that they opened the main screen for the baby showing, although it meant more screaming babies it wasn't that bad, Louie slept for a pretty long time so between me and Phil we managed to watch the whole film! I really enjoyed it, I don't think it's as good as The Dark Knight but I enjoyed it more than Batman Begins! 

How hot has it been today?! We went for a walk into market square after the film (and after I purchased a pedometer) but it felt so hot that I literally just took a few snaps and we came home! This, obviously, is the swing ride in motion....

I've not been dieting/exercising for long but I've lost 4lbs already, yay!! :)

Samantha

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10/365

Well what a brilliant day I've had today, beautiful weather to accompany it too! We had a lovely drive over to Belper this morning with a friend of mine and her little family. We got a little lost on the way, totally the sat navs fault, but we made it and pitched up in the grounds of the Belper Rugby club, waiting for the festivities to start. There were It's A Knockout style games, stalls selling yummy cakes and lovely books (which I forgot to go back for, dammit) and raffles galore! All to help raise money for Penny's Fund, I will probably do another blog with a few more photos but I'm pooped after such an awesome day out so this one will have to suffice for now...

  

Check out Penny's Fund on Facebook to find out how you can help raise money!! 

www.facebook.com/PennysFund

Samantha

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8/365

I haven't done anything today apart from some housework and tended to a grumpy, teething baby so unfortunately I don't have much to report. 

I spent a while on my hair and make-up and had a very specific image of what I wanted from this photo but it didn't happen. Originally I looked very pink, I slapped lots of different shades of make-up on my face, had pink earrings, and pink body gems but when I showed Phil he said it looked horrid and was "beyond weird" so I edited the photo to look like this instead...

Diet starts tomorrow, wish me luck! :)

Samantha

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7/365

So far so good, that's one week down, just another 51 to go, haha!

I didn't do much today, took Louie for a weigh in and fetched some spuds from the shop for dinner. I did however take a detour on the way home to find something for my photo today, a nice big pink flower growing next to the curb. I love the idea of one lucky (or not so lucky) seed finding it's way outside the designated garden area. I saw it whilst driving down the same road last week and thought it was amazing, I know, I'm easily pleased, sometimes. Today however, the flower had gone and I instead got absolutely drenched with rain, booooo! Although getting so wet in the summer actually wasn't so bad and instead made me think that it'd been a long time since I'd taken my coat off and enjoyed being out in the rain. What happened to that? Why do we all get to a certain point in our lives where we decide that being out in the rain's not fun anymore!? I think when the opportunity rises, like on a day off, we should all  have a little dance in the rain... only in the summer though, the winter would be no fun at all!

Anyhow, I didn't get a photo of the flower I wanted but instead I opted to do a self-portrait with Louie... :)

I used to do a lot of self-portraits, maybe now I'm doing this challenge I'll start experimenting some more!

Watch this space! :)

Samantha

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6/365

I've recently decided it's time to lose my baby weight, my healthy diet will be starting next week and I've been doing bits of exercise here and there, some swimming/exercise classes. I've also decided to do more walking, mostly because it's free and relatively easy (when it's not chucking it down). I've been doing pretty well, last week I took a 4mile walk around the West Bridgford area, then on Friday I walked to Beeston and back, which, by the way, isn't a 9.1 mile round trip, (Google can be wrong after all, who knew?!) it's a 5.2 mile round trip! 

Yesterday I did some walking in the horrendous rain and today I decided to walk to Beeston again! It took me 1hr 45mins to go there and back, pushing a pushchair I might add! I was absolutely knackered and my face was bright red to boot (I wondered why I was being stared at), I blame both The Black Keys and MGMT, the upbeat tunes in my lug holes were making me charge full steam ahead! 

Anywho, whilst in Beeston I went to Bean Cafe, they do awesome coffee, paninis and cakes! I met my friend Mayita and her son, Arlo. 

Here's a photo of them both, street photography stylee...

I just love how comfy Arlo looks in the sling! :)

Samantha

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5/365

Last night my friend Jen surprised me with a visit and brought with her some beautiful flowers, so this morning I took a photo of them. This was shot using a macro adapter for my 50mm lens!

Samantha 

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4/365

Last night I went out with my baby buddy, was a great night and although I didn't get hugely drunk I didn't feel the best this morning and I'm still in my pj's now!! Lazy!!
This photo is of my son's little feet, it took ages to get this as he's such a bloomin' wriggler! Tomorrow he has his second lot of jabs, not looking forward to that as he wasn't very happy last time! Wish us luck!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Samantha

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Eavie-Rose

This is my baby buddy and her beautiful 9 week old daughter Eavie-Rose in their garden!

A pleasure to shoot!

Samantha

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3/365

Tonight I'm going out I need to blog my 3rd photo for my 365 challenge early, first Saturday night out in about a year, yahoooo! 

This is photo is of Phil holding our son, Louie. It was shot in my living room with one speedlite. 

Louie's exactly 13weeks and 2 days old! Isn't he a cutie?! As his mum I'm not biased at all! :)

Have a lovely weekend everyone!!

Samantha

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2/365

So today was a really miserable day, which is no surprise in old blighty, but I decided to not yet it deter me from a bit of exercise. I felt so good after being out and walking yesterday that I thought I'd carry the trend on today but walk a bit further (and drag Phil and Louie along too)! It took us 2 or so hours to walk to and from Beeston, although we left the house at 12pm and didnt make it back until 7pm! We had two very long breaks, which included coffee with our friend Liz! As the weather was so horrid I decided not to take my camera out with me but took this very abstract photo before we left... 

I'm going to snuggle up and watch a film now, I'm knackered!!

Samantha

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Katherine Kerrison S/S 2012

Back in March I briefly blogged some behind the scenes photos from a shoot I'd done at Wollaton Park for a very talented local designer, Katherine Louise Kerrison. You'll probably recognise her name as I've done a fair few shoots for her now and I hope there will be many more to come as she's an absolute pleasure to work with! There was a bit of a heatwave in March and the day we shot was a beautifully sunny and warm day, just perfect. These photos feature Katherine's gorgeous new prom dresses and spring/summer collection.

To purchase anything you see here or to propose custom ideas to Katherine please visit her website and/or Etsy shop. 

http://www.katherinekerrison.co.uk 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/katherinelkerrison

Models: Judith Keys

Elina Vitola 

Hair: Ayesha Caunt-Buonocore

MUA: Sarah Vaites

Alys Power Design

Way back in June last year, on a very, very hot day in Nottingham we had a little studio shoot! :)

Prior to this shoot I met Alys at a craft fair in West Bridgford, I instantly fell in love with her jewellery, it's so original and unique! It's all hand crafted from vintage and precious materials which she finds at car boots and vintage fairs. I subsequently took a trip over to her studio and borrowed some of my favourite pieces for a fashion shoot! Upon seeing the results Alys asked me to take some photos for her and here is the result....

There's so much amazing stuff on her website, and she accepts commisions so get over there and grab yourself a unique, feminine, vintage, fun necklace, bracelet or ring! 

www.alyspower.co.uk

Model: Miriam Rodriquez-Juarez

MUA: Emma Grant

Alternative Graduation!

Hello! It's 2012 and even though I have other shoots still to blog from last year I couldn't resist kicking off the New Year (yes, I know we're in week 2 now) with something really rather amusing! One of my friends asked me if I could recreate her graduation photo, it'd been lost in the post I think and her parents and grandparents were most disappointed. So she trundled up from London with a specially rented gown and I shot her new graduation photo! Of course, since I shot these in my living room my boyfriend and I couldn't resist having a go as well, along with some household items (a uke should be in every house). So I present to you Erin Gallagher's Alternative Graduation... along with Phil Formby's and me... well... I've never graduated so I didn't know what to do...

The Pastels Collection - Rhea Collection.

I've worked with Rhea Clements Designs a few times now and it's always a pleasure, these photos are from a recent shoot we did with her latest scarf collection. The collection is unamed as yet so I've taken the liberty of calling it The Pastels Collcection in the meantime! :) The lovely red head featured in these photos is Chloe Bleackley and gorgeous girl below her is Satya-Sara. Hair and make-up is done by Sarah Vaites.

Nikita.

My little sister came to visit me a few weeks ago for the first time which was really nice!! We went to Splendour Festival, got incredibly burnt and whilst hungover we went to the arboretum in Nottingham City Centre and took some photos, here is the result! My sister is one for wearing hair extensions and false eyelashes all the time, I think she looks prettier without!