St Stephens Street improvement scheme... /  by Stuart Beard Photography

Love this time of year… it’s light in the morning, signs of new life everywhere, and it’s perfect for flying a mini drone …


Thought I’d check out what Norwich City Council are doing to St Stephen’s Street, usually my favoured cycle route into the city, but blocked now for several months…

You can read their intentions here

Click on the image to view the video…

slightly nerve-racking attention from birds midway, one touch from them and the drone is probably toast…







2020, ups and downs /  by Stuart Beard Photography

2020, not a great year!!

 

My business had been going from strength-to strength, getting better each year, and giving me the option to be more picky about what I undertake. 2019 saw the pilot project teaching photography and business skills to Year 10s a roaring success, and 2020 was the year I should have been rolling it out … But only two lessons in and a grinding halt… Right now I should have been hosting a work experience student for two weeks, something I’ve done for  several years now, and offering clients a discounted rate if they book their requirements over the work experience period, so I can give the students a busy and worthwhile experience. But obviously this also has not worked out…

But it is definitely not all doom and gloom. The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme means I have not been too much out of pocket as the work has dried up, and the doorstep photoshoots since June have meant that I have polished up my people skills (at least I hope I have!) and met some lovely families, hearing all sorts of lockdown experiences, and getting fitter as I’ve cycled around to most of them. I have got to grips with a scheduling app for my website that has meant people can book and pay much more easily than before. And I have picked up an additional school for individual pupil photographs next autumn, a ray of hope that there will be a return to normality.

And today I met this lovely chap, newly qualified as a humanist celebrant for funerals, with the most soothing voice I’ve heard in a long time, I can just imagine him presiding over a joyful celebration of someone’s life.

 

 

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Doorstep Photoshoots /  by Stuart Beard Photography

Having had mixed feelings about picking up the camera professionally during this challenging time, I have absolutely loved doing the doorstep photoshoots! I have cycled to each one, through beautiful sunshine, enjoying the quieter roads, and every family has been lovely… A chance to chat to new people, hear their varied experiences of lockdown, and capture that experience photographically…

Lockdown hair, a fantastic lockdown beard, a lockdown baby…

and reconnecting with families I’ve photographed in happier times (toddlers back then) … it’s been a privilege…

Dates for next week available to book direct here

https://www.stuartbeardphotography.co.uk/doorstep

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A good time for photography...? /  by Stuart Beard Photography

Such strange times we are living through, never in my lifetime has everyone felt the impact of history every single day… Unprecedented as the government is keen on repeating.

A good time for photography…?

Would people want their photo taken with no chance of getting haircuts…?

Would people be willing to pay when nothing seems secure…?

How much to charge…? Even should I charge…?

Do I actually want to pick up my camera again, my own mood has been very up and down…?

The nudge I didn’t know I needed came from a regular client, and a good friend, who asked if I’d do a doorstep photoshoot of her and her family. We had a to and fro conversation via messenger about how it would work, and I planned to do it as a freebie, just because the concept excited me more than I was expecting, and like I say, I consider her a good friend now. She wanted to promote it as an opportunity for other people in the village, and also preferred to pay… so we had another discussion about pricing, her preference was a flat fee and all the photos (as a regular client she is confident in my work)… this was really doing me a big favour as it gave me the motivation to explore the scheduling aspect of the website, and it was easier and more intuitive than I was expecting…

And that’s what we did… A five mile cycle ride from the outskirts of Norwich, two families directly outside their homes, one sunny Sunday morning, two cameras and long lenses, and lots of smiles…

So if you like what you see, and would like to book something similar, I have availability during half term week, under the book me tab

Halloween photos /  by Stuart Beard Photography

This year I’ve actually gotten around to doing something about Halloween photos, I’ve been meaning to for several years, but this year the venue is booked, the flyers are printed and the school’s are on board… It’s not going to make a fortune, i’m doing it very cheaply more for the fun than the money… and Im looking forward to getting the support of my daughter in the logistics on the day, I’m loving us working together :)

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