Queen of Motorbike Photography

It was amazing to receive the award #Queenof on Twitter the other week.  I am so honoured to be given the title Queen of Motorbike Photography

The trophy will be on its way soon.  What an awesome way to start 2015!!

Crazy... Brave... Living the dream

I can not thank everyone enough for their support with my decision to close the studio and move forward, to be able to work more where my passion is Motorbike Photography,

I have heard many things on this "short" transition to the South Coast....

The words Crazy, Brave and I wish I could do that have been just some of the comments.

 I can not believe I have already been in my amazing new home for a month and a half!  The difference it has made to myself and my life is exactly what I needed.  I have started running again (something I would never have done with the studio).  I am getting away from the computer screen - would you believe actually spending evenings away from Facebook, out with both new and old friends it feels amazing!

I now have Fridays off of work to walk into town and attend dance classes something I have missed for the last 7 years!  

Do not get me wrong I wouldn't change a thing, I have loved the studio, my clients and my team (who I miss a lot)!

For those saying I wish I could do that, wishing that they too could chase their dreams....  I just want to let you know you can do it too!!  It takes working on yourself and it takes stepping out of your comfort zone but its possible! Anything is!

If you think this has been a smooth transition I can promise you it hasn't, I have had my what am I doing moments. Days of panic - have I done the right thing, but sitting here typing while looking out at the sea I know I have and I won't be going back.

Slowing down from my fast pace, 7 days at work a week lifestyle has also been a challenge - learning to relax and not be on go, go, go all the time (I will go more into this in another post).  But slowing down has helped me to get my creativity back.

I am now starting work on a personal motorbike photography challenge which I am very excited to have launched on both Facebook and Twitter (but that is for the next blog post :) )

My 2015 is all about living life and enjoying every minute of it.... make sure you join me!

Michelle

  

A Fork In The Road... Taking A New Direction

The end of 2014 sees me following a dream I have held for over 10 years.

Ever since the idea of living on the coast came to me, I have wanted to follow this path. And now it’s time to set the wheels in motion.

On 24 December, I’ll be closing the Letchworth studio to move on. I’ve had a fantastic time here in Letchworth, where my business has grown from being in The Wynd to much larger premises in Station Road, photographing so many families, seeing many of you grow along the way.

This move is a fantastic opportunity for me to take motorbike portrait photography, a real passion of mine, to a new level.

For these motorbike portraits, all shoots are on location and don’t need studio premises. This will allow me to spend more time with each of my clients, providing a more bespoke and unique service to all.

I started in photography because I loved capturing memories, personalities, which is even more possible when out on location. And I’m so excited that this change of lifestyle will give me more time for myself and in turn more energy and passion for my clients and portraits.

I always believed I wanted the large studio with many staff members, an ever-expanding empire. But especially in this last year, I have realised that actually I want a different lifestyle, one where I connect with all my clients, and allows me a more relaxed pace.

This move will mark the start of a huge lifestyle change for me, where I can regain some of that life/work balance that the studio has not been able to provide me. (If you know me well, you’ll have seen this!)

I’m very excited about this change and look forward to photographing on the beach!

What does this mean for you?

If you’ve been putting off having a studio portrait, make sure you book now! There is very limited space before the studio closes on 24 December, so get in quick. I won’t be taking any bookings for January 2015.

Don’t worry if you miss me! I’ll be back at least four times a year offering you the chance to enjoy a family location portrait. (Dates to be announced on the Facebook page).

If you’d like me to contact you directly with dates when I’ll be back in the area, please let me know so I can make a note.

Thanks for your support in Letchworth and here’s to big new dreams!

Michelle

THINK bike and a crazy early start

Last week for some reason I decided to get up at 4am and go out to photograph in the amazing fog we had.

Thinking about what I wanted to produce from this crazy hour, I decided to work on an image with the THINK bike theme.  Not having my own motorbike yet, I wondered how I could produce this.  With a last minute grab of my lid, thinking I will play with this and see what I can get.

At 5am I was out at the back of my studio working with the street lights, and flood lights on buildings that really brought out the thick fog.

Getting up at a crazy hour was well worth the effort with the image produced below... I hope that as this gets shared the power of the image will help the message spread THINKBIKE

 for all the fallen bikers, our friends, our family.