What's In Store for 2025 and Beyond.

Okatie, South Carolina - September 2024

Welcome to my first blog of 2025.

Let’s head into the new year with enjoyment, enthusiasm and above all creativity for an exciting 2025 and beyond.

The most important mindset to engage in January is a clear vision and focus for what you would like to achieve during the coming months, or even years.

I’d like to share with you my vision to achieve my goals.

Looking back at the past 28 years since I started my business in the wonderful world of photography – SMS Creative Photography, now called Stella – the one thing that has remained a firm constant is the connection to you, my customers. To craft everlasting photographs to reflect on for very many years to come.

Whether you are amongst the first families and businesses I photographed or we have met more recently. The message and intention remains the same – to demonstrate just how valuable time is. Unless these moments are captured and printed they fade rapidly from ones mind and become memories, sometimes forgotten ones.

Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA – September 2024

With the passing of time I have learnt so much along the way, and it’s not just taking photographs.

For example…

• Running and growing a successful business

• Communicating on different levels with a variety of people

• Learning new technology – after all, it was a roll of film in the camera in 1997 when I opened the doors to my shiny new business

• Creating an online presence via a website and social media

• Marketing to the right demographic

• Growing and maintaining your Brand

• Cashflow

• Understanding above all what your customer wants and how to deliver a first class product and service…

With all of this in mind it brings me onto what’s in store for 2025 and how I can share my knowledge and expertise with you so you can benefit.

A helping hand... photographed at Grande Provence Estate, Franschhoek, South Africa – February 2024

• Headshot Portraits for your professional profile. When did you last update yours?

• Family photoshoots a fun-filled experience to reflect on for years to come.

• Classic & Supercar collections to create provenance and a lasting memory.

• Mentorships to teach and support you to start and maintain your business in photography.

To book or enquire about any of the above feel free to call/message me on 0777 181 0105 or email me here.

Charleston USA – captured in September 2024

I’m always open to other projects you may have on the horizon to photograph different events or lifestyle changes in your life.

For example…

• A before, during and after transformation of a home or garden project

• The gathering of memorabilia and photographs to create a bespoke tailor made book to give to someone very special to celebrate a landmark in time

• Curating photographs and artworks to display in your home or office selecting the mounts and frames and design for your wall space

Life is a continuous story of fleeting moments and I feel privileged to be able to photograph yours.

This link tells you a little bit more about my works as a professional photographer.

Thank you

Introducing Microlino - Born in Switzerland - Raised in Italy

I was introduced to the new Microlino – an all-electric, lightweight, four-wheeled Quadricycle, designed for urban mobility by Ian Smith of Casmin Group. With styling closely inspired by the BMW Isetta, a bubble car from the 1950s, it features a front-opening door and externally mounted headlights.

Seats two adults comfortably and three beer crates in the boot or whatever takes your fancy.

Microlino is a Swiss brand manufactured in Turin, Italy. This 100% electric light vehicle with a range of 177 km, a top speed of 90 km/h and a boot capacity of 230 litres.

Parts are 80% sourced in Europe with 50% fewer parts than a regular car.

Compact and durable

Charges in 4 hours

Sturdy and lightweight

Easy access open button

Comfortable leather seats

External headlights

Seats two comfortably

Stylish design

Good visability

Key access and mini microlino keyring

Microlino can be charged on a household plug in 4 hours. Easy to park with an exit through the front so no need to worry about tight parking spaces. The fold back sunroof allows a lovely breeze on a summers day.

A pleasure to photograph and to be a passenger! A good looking run around car with plenty to offer for stress free driving and good for the environment too…what more could you want!

For more information please get in touch with Ian Smith from Casmin Group on 07774 100006 via WhatApp or Call.

Thanks

Stella

My Photoshoot Amongst the Bluebells aged 19 Months

It was a sunny morning!

I had the pleasure of photographing my granddaughter Bella at the weekend, she liked it so much she wanted to tell you all about it.

Hello everyone, my name is Bella, I’m 19 months old. This is my second photoshoot amongst the bluebells. I’ve been photographed many times because my grandmother is a photographer. (I call her yia-yia because her mummy and daddy are from Cyprus).

Me when I was just 7 months old. I was just a baby.

Look at me now I’m a big girl because I can walk, run, sing and dance and say lots of words too.

With my mummy. Look at my pretty dress. I haven’t got very much hair.

With my mummy again, she still looks the same but look at me, I’ve got lots more hair – mummy says she can’t wait for my hair to get longer so she can put a ribbon in it.

Did you know my yia-yia has been a photographer for over 35 years? She has been photographing families in the woodlands for a long time, especially when the bluebells are in flower. She said now is the time to book your photoshoot because they are only at their best for a little while before they die.

If you would like to have a photoshoot with yia-yia she is called Stella. She said to contact her before Saturday 20th April to book your photoshoot as there are a limited number of photoshoots available until 28th April.

She is very friendly and the photoshoot was great fun her phone number is 0777 181 0105 or email her.

I’m happy I have all these photos to look back on when I’m older to enjoy with mummy, daddy and all the family.

Yia-yia said to me “Be very careful Bella not to tread on the bluebells, they are very delicate and are to be treated with respect so they can keep on flowering every year”

With my daddy, he is lots of fun and very strong! It makes me laugh a lot when he does this.

We sat on a pathway so we didn’t squash the bluebells.

We spotted an animal running up a tree, mummy said it’s called a skirril I mean squirrel.

The flowers tickled my nose when I smelt them. I tried to eat one but mummy quickly stopped me and said they are not food and not for picking. They are wildflowers. Yia-yia says I’m wild too…because I love being outdoors and running around, she calls me a little monkey.

I can walk and stretch too. I was pointing at a big bird in the sky called an aeroplane. Do you like my jeans and roll neck jumper?

We went for a wander down the lane afterwards…it was a bit chilly.

Then back to yia-yia’s to download, whatever that means!

I’m having lessons to learn how a camera works. I press this button called a shutter to take a photograph. Did you know the word photograph comes from the Greek word φωτογραφία? Meaning drawing (γραφία) with light (φωτο). I’m learning Greek too – yia-yia (pronounced yah yah) is the first word I have learnt so far.

This is my yia-yia taking a photograph of me and my mummy. Daddy took the picture on his iPhone.

This link tells you more about having a photoshoot.

Thank you for reading my story

Bella

S4K International Films at Southlands in Tandridge, Oxted

Southlands a beautiful Grade II listed building nestled in eight acres of grounds with far reaching views

Let me tell you more about where I’m based... it’s a place called Southlands – a beautiful Grade II listed building in the Surrey countryside. It’s nestled in eight acres of stunning grounds surrounded by woodlands and fields and dates back to 1827. The far reaching views from my first-floor apartment are captivating with views overlooking the Weald.

This gives me the perfect tranquil working environment and location for photoshoots. I feel inspired every single day. With this in mind, Southlands will soon be available to others to hire for commercial photographic shoots and filming too.

Last week a local theatrical company called Shakespeare 4 Kidz - S4K International asked permission to film a pilot for a new film they are producing called ‘Side-by-side by Shakespeare’ – shooting a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – our neighbouring woodland proving to be ideal to set the scene.

So here begins our Southlands Production journey, to offer our grounds for commercial films, period dramas, commercials and photoshoots.

Read on to learn more about S4K International and our day with Titania and Oberon …

The Shakespeare 4 Kidz project started in the mid-nineties when friends Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett combined to create musical theatre adaptations of Shakespeare’s classic stories to be performed as school shows. Since then the company has expanded into publishing, education and theatre production - with their shows being performed by professional adult casts in theatres all over the country. The shows have also been performed by schools in every English-speaking country in the world.

S4K International’s “Side-by-side…” project is a series of short films that directly compare the Shakespeare 4 Kidz easy-to-understand/accessible musical versions of a scene with the original text one. Both scenes are identical: same scene, same actors, same shots, same edits, same music. The idea is to make them available literally side-by-side.

Set up and ready for a day filming

The famous scene from the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the audience’s first introduction to Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of Fairyland, and finds them in a heated argument over the custody of a young orphaned prince from India. Oberon wants him to join his gang but Titania has made a vow to the boy’s mother that she would bring him up and protect him. Their argument has disrupted the climate and the seasons of the mortal world.

The actors were Andrew Troy (Oberon) and Thea Jo Wolfe (Titania). Directed by Olivia Chenery.

The Indian Prince, the subject of the King and Queen of Fairyland’s nature-disrupting argument, is a young actor called Kenneth from the Helen O’Grady Academy in Coulsdon.

The series is produced by Carolyn and Julian Chenery for S4K International and the first two episodes will be launched in the autumn of 2023. Film production is by Chris Grierson and Alex Carter of The Sheriff of London.

Makeup by Helena Sergeant. Lunch made by The Limpsfield Cookery School. Costumes by Prangsta Costumiers.

For more information on S4K’s work visit S4Kinternational.com and Shakespeare4Kidz.com - or search ‘S4K International’ across social media channels.

Oberon and Titanian resting between scenes and adjusting headress by Carolyn Chenery left and Helena Sergeant right.

Titania and Oberon during filming

A heavy headress needs adjusting by Helena

Matt Gimblett left and Julian Chehery right, the founders of Shakespeare 4 Kidz.

Behind the scenes

A moment of reflection for Titania.

An important part of any day’s filming is having the right food and enough of it. My apartment was used for dressing, dining and refreshments.

The Indian Prince played by Kenneth

The Indian Prince and Titania

An exchange of stares and words from Oberon and Titania.

A very productive and successful day was had by all. Thank you to Barry our neighbour for being so accommodating with the use of his wonderful woodland and driveway.

To find out more about Southlands Production email me here.

Thank you

Stella