Oh January 2021 what a long month you were !!

cake smashsophia benham1 February 2021Beside The Seaside Photography LOCKDOWN, STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY, NEW YEAR, New mum, CALENDAR, #sittersession

Shoot and Share competition 2019

I thought I would share in case anyone else wants to join in voting for some amazing photographs in the world's

"only free and fair photo contest".
shoot and share

contestsophia benham6 October 2019worldwide, shoot and share contest, shoot and share, shoot, international, top 10%

A proper smash for Charlie on his First Birthday 🎂

Charlie's parents Abigail &.... bought little

Charlie along on his actual 1st birthday.

I think I was just excited as them to be honest, well after all it is a big milestone and probably the most important one through the eyes of a parent.

Those last twelve months of nurturing, bonding and many sleepless nights not to mention endless nappy changes and baths.

Turning one is a great milestone in that more than likely the firsts begin, the first tooth, the first curl, the first food and the first steps.

So what better way to celebrate this amazing landmark for any parent than to incorporate a cake smash as close to their baby's 1st birthday.

Mummy & son

Eli aged 7 months came along for his session in May and when he arrived he was very much sleeping.

Inevitably when he woke he was in strange surroundings with a new person in his presence.

That someone wasn't his mummy and not the person that has been so close to him for the last 16 months.

The Travelling Dress Collective - Featuring Tara

I have heard a lot about a travelling dress collective a few times but in January 2019 I decided it was about time I push my creativity a little bit harder than I normally would.

Therefore I decided to join a travelling dress collective with eleven other members from a photography background. They were all living in England but spread mainly in the Southern region of the country.

I contributed towards the cost of a designer dress along with the other members and was allocated a set date.

My weekend happened to coincide with Easter weekend so knowing that I wouldn’t get me body into the sized 6/8 sequinned adorned piece by then, I searched for a more suitable model.

My model was Tara, she has an extensive dancing background and I used to dance with her Mother back when I was younger.

Tara is 16 years old and has recently been fortunate enough to receive a place at The Laine theatre dance school in London.

Having her last week of festivals she was only too happy to assist me on my own personal project.

We discussed ideas, locations, hair and make up and then set about our day,

Thankfully the weather was Summer-like and the sun shone amazingly as did Tara.

With pointe shoes and dancing tights she put on the dress and came alive as if ‘dancing’ to a score whilst on stage.

The passers by were in awe, many asking questions and telling us their dancing connections. One lady’s sister was a dance teacher in Zimbabwe another man worked at the local Kings Theatre in Southsea for many years.

It was so great to see the public’s response, Tara was making many dance like movements, posès and I captured her in the essence of the atmosphere.

Our setting used was the Southsea Castle and surrounding walls and beautiful sand coloured wall backdrops. These really echoed the colour of the travelling dress and also Tara’s hair colouring too.

I asked Tara why she loved dancing so much and this is what she said to me;